Sunflower Stirfry

Wow, it’s been awhile! I have a lot of recipes to catch up on. I’ve invented several, including a super yummy cranberry coconut crumble. I also ate fried squash blossoms, and they were incredible!! Right now I’m just going to post an ingredient list for Sunflower Stirfry I came up with. It was autumny and cozy and hearty, and the sunflower accents gave it a buttery, nutty flavor. Cooked wild rice blend 1 peeled and cubed parsnip half an onion, diced couple cloves garlic salt pepper thyme toasted pine nuts or sunflower seeds half a lemon w/ zest sunflower shoots Continue reading Sunflower Stirfry

Smoothie Concepts

Ideas to play around with: #1 blueberries, green grapes, klamath lake algae #2 almond milk, dates, raw caocao butter (I’ve made this–it tastes like candy) #3 beets, strawberries, rhubarb, maybe a carrot, maybe orange, maybe cranberries #4 coconut water, mango, spinach, kale, banana (delicious, and very green) #5 ginger, pear, nutmeg, vanilla, coconut water #6 blueberries, banana, coconut water #7 pineapple, banana, coconut milk, coconut meat, coconut oil Continue reading Smoothie Concepts

In Progress

None of these have photos, but they are recipes I’m working on perfecting. #1 Copycat Whole Foods Green Smoothie -blend spinach, kale, coconut water, mango chunks, and banana #2 Apple Pie Smoothie -blend almond milk, one green apple, quick oats, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and a little honey #3 Southwestern Quinoa Salad -Quinoa with black beans, corn, diced scallions, diced bell peppers, olive slices, a tiny bit of fresh cilantro. Dressing: grapeseed oil (about 4 tbsp), lime juice (two juicy limes), salt, pepper, onion powder (1 tbsp), garlic powder (1/4 tsp), cumin (1/4 tsp), oregano, paprika (1/4 tsp) #4 Cassandra Hunt’s … Continue reading In Progress

Leek and Potato Quiche

I’m breaking my own rule by not posting a photo, but I don’t want to write out the recipe by hand only to misplace it. So, I intend to rectify the situation next time I make this and squeeze the photo in here. In the meantime, here’s the recipe. Note: The milk and cheese can be omitted to produce a dairy-free quiche, which would still be tasty. Recipe from: me Ingredients: 2 medium potatoes, scrubbed and rinsed 1 leek, sliced, rinsed, and strained 1 tsp. butter 1-2 cloves garlic 1/4 tsp. terragon 1/2 tsp. salt freshly ground black pepper 1/2 … Continue reading Leek and Potato Quiche

Secret-Ingredient Chocolate Pudding

Recipe from: me This is one of my all-time favorite recipes. It makes a decadent breakfast or a refreshing afternoon pick-me-up, and it’s easy. It tastes creamy and luxurious and indulgent, and yet… it’s actually healthy for you as well as low-glycemic. There is one little catch though, and that’s the secret ingredient. I wish I could make you taste it before I unveil this ingredient to avoid bias. See, the first time I made this I was doing it as a favor for my mom, and I was certain it would be absolutely nasty. But I tasted a little … Continue reading Secret-Ingredient Chocolate Pudding

Butternut and Caulflower Soup

Recipe from: me This soup is so buttery and smooth, yet extremely low in fat. A rare find indeed! I loved it exactly as it came out, yet I still intend to play around with it and find other tasty versions. I’d like to omit the rosemary (which I overuse with squash and sweet potato recipes) and try some other things. Leeks? Red pepper flakes? Thyme? Sage? Oregano? Curry powder? Coriander seeds? And maybe add some more veggies in addition to the cauliflower, like peas or chunks of zucchini or other squash or parsnips or turnips. I love messing around … Continue reading Butternut and Caulflower Soup

Pumpkin Soup

This one is weird, because it was strange and exotic at the same time as tricking you into thinking it was comforting and familiar. I wasn’t sure I truly liked it, though. I think it was the cream. Maybe next time I can use almond milk instead, or just leave it out altogether. Here is the basic flavor palette I worked with: canned pumpkin Rachel Ray chicken stock onion garlic thyme bay leaf salt & pepper cream pepitas Gives me something to work with and refine next pumpkin season. Continue reading Pumpkin Soup

Really Good Apple Butter

Recipe from: Changing My Destiny, altered by me I am delighted to live only a couple miles away from a very sweet older gentlemen who runs his own orchard. Every fall I make it a point to drop by at least once to pick apples. In my desire to consecrate these handpicked apples to a special autumny use, I made a batch of this crockpot apple butter. It was amazing, and I mean a-mazing. Melt-in-your-mouth marvelous. Ingredients: 12 or so assorted apples, at least 50% granny smith 1/2 c. water 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. allspice 1/4 c. butter 1/2 … Continue reading Really Good Apple Butter

Smoky Lentil Soup

This soup is really yummy, but it definitely needs time for the flavors to meld so it’s better to make ahead and save for the next day. Recipe from: William’s Sonoma Ingredients: (Measurements modified to serve 8) 1 pkg. bacon, cut into small chunks and cooked 2 tbsp. butter or olive oil 1 onion, diced 2 carrots, rinsed and sliced 2 medium stalks of celery, sliced 2-3 cloves minced garlic 1 can tomato paste 1 tbsp. + 1 tsp. smoked paprika 1/2 c. canned diced tomatoes 1 1/2 c. red lentils, sorted and soaked for 5-8 hours 2 quarts chicken … Continue reading Smoky Lentil Soup

Sausage, Spinach, and Swiss Casserole

This casserole is tasty and hearty and feels like good old fashioned home cooking. Recipe from: me Ingredients: 2 lbs hot Italian turkey sausage 10 medium russet potatoes 2-3 tbsp. butter salt and pepper to taste 1 medium onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 pkg. frozen spinach 8 slices swiss cheese 1 c. chicken broth ??? (the jury’s still out on that one) Directions: Scrub your potatoes squeaky clean and cut into 1 in. cubes, skin on. Saute them in butter and salt and pepper to taste, until they become brown and crispy. Place in a very large mixing … Continue reading Sausage, Spinach, and Swiss Casserole